Written by: Carlos Pérez, GTM Governance, Latin America
Mexico and the United States have created a solid business and foreign trade relationship based on collaboration and trust. A proof of this collaboration is the Declaration of Principles for a Bilateral Strategic Plan, signed in March 2014 in an effort to improve North American competitiveness, specifically to these two big trading partners.
On October 15th 2015, in Mexico City, the U.S. and Mexico formalized the bilateral strategic plan, made official with the signing of a Pre-Customs Clearance Memorandum, by kicking off a joint Customs clearance pilot project. This project is integrated on three key milestones:
- Air cargo at the Laredo Texas Airport focused on the automotive, electronics and aerospace industries, shipped to eight Mexican airports authorized to promote the importation and exportation of foreign trade goods. These Mexican airports are: Guadalajara, Toluca, Hermosillo, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Ramos Arizpe, and San Luis Potosi.
- Shipments of Mexican agricultural products to be exported to the United States at Tijuana Customs (Mesa de Otay offices).
- Computers and electronic products assembled in the Foxconn Company facilities, in San Jerónimo, Chihuahua – situated less than a mile from the international border crossing point Jerónimo – Santa Teresa and ten miles from Ciudad Juarez, to be exported to the United States.
Each pilot project milestone will be in effect for a six-month period. At the end, results will be evaluated to determine whether to extend the pilot project to other sectors of the industry, or to make the program permanent and implement it at other border crossing points or airports.
The first phase is currently active and the second step is scheduled to begin in February 2016. Commencement date for the third phase has not yet been announced.
How does it work?
A single customs inspection is performed by Mexican Customs and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel for shipments coming from or going into the United States. This procedure includes a review of the documents and physical goods, and will reduce the time spent at customs and associated logistics costs.
Technology and skillsets vary between U.S. and Mexico Customs, which may cause some challenges to the success of this project pilot. Both nations need to make a joint effort to obtain the same level of professionalism on both ends in order to ensure the success of this project.
For more information please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/news/2015/10/15/readout-secretary-johnsons-trip-mexico and http://blogs.law.unc.edu/ncilj/2015/11/08/cargo-preinspection-aims-to-facilitate-trade-between-mexico-us/ .